Category Archives: Liberia

Kimmie Weeks and The New Liberia

Posted on 20 October 2009 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Over the weekend I stumbled upon Kimmie Weeks, labelled Liberia’s young hero by CNN. Honestly speaking, I had never heard of him – thought undoubtedly that says more about me than about him. He is famous, not only in Liberia, … Continue reading →

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Twenty Years Charles Taylor: 1989 – 2009

Posted on 6 October 2009 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Today I was reading the daily and weekly summaries of the Trial of Charles Taylor site, that excellent initiative and project of the Open Society Justice Initiative. Again I was fascinated by what is happening a few miles from where … Continue reading →

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Liberia and the Decolonization of the Mind

Posted on 24 September 2009 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

This afternoon I went to the VU University Amsterdam to attend the inaugural speech of one of the recently appointed Desmond Tutu Professors of VU University Amsterdam. Four Professors were installed and presented during the launch of the Desmond Tutu … Continue reading →

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President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s Independence Day speech

Posted on 27 July 2009 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

In case you have not yet read the July 26 speech of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, which she presented during yesterday’s Independence Day celebrations in Bong County, you can read the full text here. The original text is also available … Continue reading →

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Controversial TRC report rocks Liberia

Posted on 8 July 2009 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

One week after the publication of its impressive final report, the Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC) is at the center of a political storm which only seems to intensify. Its findings and recommendations have surprised many – both inside and … Continue reading →

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‘Let Justice Be Done To All’

Posted on 21 June 2009 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

The booming economy of the 1950s and 1960s enabled the construction in Monrovia of (then) prominent buildings such as the Capitol (1958), the Executive Mansion (1964), the City Hall and the Temple of Justice. The inscription ‘Let Justice be Done … Continue reading →

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‘This Child Will be Great’ – Some reflections

Posted on 4 May 2009 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Wow. What a book! What a woman! What a life! I just finished reading Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s autobiography, ‘This Child Will be Great. Memoir of a Remarkable Life by Africa’s First Woman President’ (HarperCollinsPublishers, 2009). The book amazes, the book … Continue reading →

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From the ‘rice riots’ to the Special Court for Sierra Leone

Posted on 13 April 2009 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Thirty years ago the ‘rice riots’ were the beginning of the end of the Administration of President William Tolbert (1971 – 80). April 14, 1979 – ‘The day Monrovia stood still’, as described by the late Albert Porte, one of … Continue reading →

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Face to face with Charles Taylor (Part 4)

Posted on 8 April 2009 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

(continued from April 8) Three high-ranking officers of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) – Sierra Leone’s rebel movement which terrorized the population of the West African republic from 1991 to 2002 – were sentenced yesterday in Freetown for crimes against … Continue reading →

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Ellen: ‘I supported Taylor…’

Posted on 8 April 2009 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

(continued from April 7) Though the SCSL’s mandate is clear and very distinct from the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC), the two are often related in the case of Taylor’s activities. Three recent testimonies before the TRC are worth … Continue reading →

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